Information and advice guides
Finding the right help for your child when they're struggling with their mental health, and finding your way around mental health services, can be challenging. Here you'll find information and advice on the different types of mental health support available to your child, and how you can access them.
If your child is in a mental health crisis or you are worried they are not safe, read our advice on getting urgent help.
-
A guide to the different places you can go to get mental health support for your child when they're struggling.
-
A guide to how the GP can help your child and the kinds of support they can arrange. We've also got tips on helping your child to speak to the GP.
-
A guide to how counselling and therapy work, how your child can access it, and how you can support them through the process.
-
Find out what to expect from the NHS mental health service for children and young people. This guide outlines how your child can access CAMHS, as well as how referrals, assessments and treatment works.
-
A guide to the type of support provided by your local authority, including help with special educational needs and mental health issues.
-
If your child is going into hospital to get support for their mental health, this guide explains what happens in hospital, how you can support your child and how you can voice your views about their treatment.
Use our parent guide to help you prepare for appointments
Whether you're meeting the GP, someone from CAMHS or another kind of mental health professional, you can use this resource to think through what you'd like to say and make some notes. We've got lots of questions and prompts to help you prepare.
Contact our Parents Helpline
Want to speak to someone about your child's mental health?
If you're worried about the mental health or wellbeing of your child, you can contact our Parents Helpline via phone or webchat.
Our team of trained advisers will listen and talk through your concerns, provide emotional support, and help you to take the next steps in supporting your child.
Information and advice for your child
We also have lots of information and advice for young people that both you and your child might find helpful. Take a look at some of our guides below, or view our full range of advice pages for young people.
-
If your child is thinking of taking medication for their mental health, we provide general information on some different types of medication, and answer common questions about what's involved.
-
A glossary of mental health terms you and your child might come across as you find support for their mental health.
-
A guide to CAMHS and mental health support for young people, including information on inpatient care, talking to the GP about mental health and counselling and therapy.